Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians

To understand 2 Corinthians it's important to have the background of 1 Corinthians in mind. In the first letter, Paul has had to deal with all kinds of difficulties amongst the Corinthians believers, and he has had to strongly defend his own reputation and apostolic authority in the face of his detractors and opponents. Now many of those issues have been resolved, and Paul writes movingly of fellowship and harmony restored. In fact both they and Paul have been strengthened by the difficult experience they have been through together. It is through difficulties endured that believers are made strong and God is glorified.

Q: Enter question one?

A: Here is the answer to question one.

Q: Enter question two?

A: Here is the answer to question two.

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3:17

He deals with the aftermath of his previous letters and visits and the matters on which he has had to put them straight.

He makes some plans and arrangements for the future.

He reminds them of some key teachings from his first letter.

He re-asserts his apostolic authority - both his right to be heard and obeyed by them, but also he willing sacrifice (the supreme fulfilment of the apostolic role) on their behalf.

2 Corinthians has a lot to say about suffering and comfort. Both the Corinthian church and Paul himself had suffered significantly because of the many problems and issues they'd had to work through together. But now, coming out through the other side of all that, they are starting to experience the comfort that comes from suffering faithfully endured. Hardship and difficulties really can bring comfort with them, Paul argues - and characters are honed and relationships are deepened as a result. Corinthians provides a kind of worked example of how God moulds our characters and provides them with comfort as they struggle through the trials of their lives.

After the letter we know as 1 Corinthians Paul was forced to make what he describes as a 'painful' visit to address problems that seemed only to be escalating. He then had to write a particularly stern letter (which we don't have, but it is referred to in 2 Cor 7:8), which at last seems to 'get through' and bring about a change of heart. He then sends Titus to visit them to help out further and take stock of the situation. Upon Titus' return Paul learns of the good news that things are looking up, and he writes 2 Corinthians in part as a joyful response, and in part to make sure that they continue in their new attitudes.

The New Testament contains two letters which Paul wrote to Corinth. They were separated by a visit from Paul and probably another letter also, but even so they were probably written fairly close together. They are fascinating to consider as a pair. They contain many common themes (wisdom, strength/weakness, the role and authority of apostles (and Paul in particular), the body as a temple, unity, etc - a fuller list is in the 2 Corinthians pdf). It's interesting to see how many of the issues Paul deals with in 1 Cor are developing and have improved in 2 Cor.

2 Corinthians is not written according to a neat structural scheme which is easy to summarise or tabulate. Instead, Paul proceeds in a somewhat circular fashion through his main themes (see the other tabs), returning often to reiterate and elaborate topics he has covered before. Having a grasp of the major themes of the letter and making a note of when they reappear can be a helpful way to study the book.

Paul uses the Greek word for 'comfort' and 'consolation' many, many times in this letter. He opens with it (1:3), and he closes with it (13:9), and his opening passage, 1:3-9 uses the term an amazing xx times!

Paul's love and concern for the Corinthians flows over in this letter. One of the ways he stresses it is through the many sentences he writes which contain the words 'you' (the Corinthians), and 'us' (Paul and his fellow workers and apostles). He painstakingly shows how all his sufferings that he endures, all his labours and the hardships he puts himself through are for their sake - so that their relationship with Christ might be deepened. He shows how the role of apostleship is a role of service - of giving of oneself for others, just as Christ did. And Paul holds this model out as an example for believers of all ages also.